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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas by John Betjeman

The bells of waiting Advent ring,
The Tortoise stove is lit again
And lamp-oil light across the night
Has caught the streaks of winter rain
In many a stained-glass window sheen
From Crimson Lake to Hookers Green.

The holly in the windy hedge
And round the Manor House the yew
Will soon be stripped to deck the ledge,
The altar, font and arch and pew,
So that the villagers can say
'The church looks nice' on Christmas Day.

Provincial Public Houses blaze,
Corporation tramcars clang,
On lighted tenements I gaze,
Where paper decorations hang,
And bunting in the red Town Hall
Says 'Merry Christmas to you all'.

And London shops on Christmas Eve
Are strung with silver bells and flowers
As hurrying clerks the City leave
To pigeon-haunted classic towers,
And marbled clouds go scudding by
The many-steepled London sky.

And girls in slacks remember Dad,
And oafish louts remember Mum,
And sleepless children's hearts are glad.
And Christmas-morning bells say 'Come!'
Even to shining ones who dwell
Safe in the Dorchester Hotel.

And is it true,
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall ?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me ?

And is it true ? For if it is,
No loving fingers tying strings
Around those tissued fripperies,
The sweet and silly Christmas things,
Bath salts and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie so kindly meant,

No love that in a family dwells,
No carolling in frosty air,
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this single Truth compare -
That God was man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine.


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Black with white stripes or?

Doesn't this just say "Christmas!" to you?

We got some "Snuggies" for Christmas gifts -
Careful, if you stare too long, you may get dizzy!

Friday, December 18, 2009

The CCCP strikes again

Many, many stories lie behind the smiles of these two ladies (and myself!) below. Broken teeth and plastic robots, pogoballs and frogs BUT best of all...
...the Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza! For nearly 10 years the famous CCCP regularly appears in the arms of my beloved third grade Sunday school teacher - above on the right.

This nearly devoured CCCP is evidence as to why in the last week I've gained five Michigan pounds... and counting! Though I'm not concerned - again, it's worth it!

Irregretably irresistable

I was wandering up and down the aisles of a nearby store with no intent to purchase - only peruse.

I passed these 'Pumpkin Cremes' - irresistible. I tried. I glanced at them and quickly diverted my eyes. I marched to the end of the aisle, but soon found my feet sauntering back.

Half-price, small package and all mine. I was sold. They disappeared shortly after purchase and my stomach complained just as quickly.

Were they worth it? Definitely!

(Yes, Mrs Lake, I know "irregretably" is not a word - just call it poetic license!)

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Orange you glad...

PART 1:
Many of you faithful Vanessa blog readers will remember that March 2009 was an important month for me. If you can't quite recall why, I will direct your attention to the previous web-blog full of literary genius: www.jogthruprague.blogspot.com.

One of the perks of participating in the Prague Half-Marathon was the small satchel of many free items - magazines, power bars, etc. This bottle of lotion was included in the booty:It's simply an unassuming tube of hand lotion, which I took as a kind gesture from the Marathon organisers.

Having sat in my cupboard for almost a year, I decided it was the perfect size to carry along with me for my trip to Michigan.

PART 2:
My Christmas travels had me sleeping one night in a Vienna airport hotel, to allow me to catch an early morning flight out. It was this morning that I first started noticing a strange discolouration in between my toes and also the fingers of my right hand. I couldn't scrub it away, so during my long trip to Michigan, a few options as to the cause came to mind:

- Rusted water in the hotel, which I didn't notice
- A strange skin disease which was slowly overtaking my epidermis
- An allergic reaction to the West which worsened the further I travelled

PART 3:
Having settled into my parents' home and my old bedroom in Grandville, I couldn't help but notice that this orange colouring wasn't lessening and in fact this morning it was worse than ever.
Before panicking and admitting myself into the Medical Care Unit down the street, I did a bit of investigative work and soon found the culprit of this colouring.

Yes, it was my Half-Marathon lotion! It's not this pleasant hydrating lotion, which I had assumed it to be and used it thus. No, it is indeed TANNING LOTION!

... I've no further comment.

THE END

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Santa Sighting

Every year at this time he appears in shopping centres and parades, on television and magazine covers. This weekend I had my 2009 encounter with the famous jolly fellow.

My parents and I (along with many other parents and their children) took the 'Santa train' this past Saturday beginning and ending in the small city of Coopersville.

Mr Claus made his appearance with his pointy eared elf on the small train in which under two hours, the Big C heard each child's Christmas wish, a Christmas story was told by a teenage Miss Coopersville 2008 and young five year old Landon was told to sit down one hundred and thirteen times by his frustrated parents.

All in all a good trip, concluding with our taking advantage of the coupon on the back of our train tickets for a pizza place in Coopersville.

St Nick and his elfess greeting the train passengers.


Me, the oldest 'child' on the train, with our Conductor (Tom), who I'm convinced was actually the real Santa undercover.

My wonderful parents on the Santa Express.


Have you seen me?

"Hello! I'm red, soft-sided, durable, not at all new and smell of German sausages.

Oh, did I mention I love to travel - and to my own time schedule."

Yep, I've arrived to the winter-wonderland of West Michigan. The trip was a long one during which I was transported by taxi (1), plane (2), bus (2), train (1), underground (1), foot (many), airport shuttle (2) and an old green Alero (1).

Half-way through the trip my luggage had had enough and decided to spend a day among the French speaking population of our globe before making its entrance to Michigan.

The last three times I've visited the US of A, my luggage had its own independent adventure.

The first was on my return trip to Prague from visiting my wonderful nephew on the West Coast in 2006 - my bag followed me two weeks later. Yes, two weeks - I had given up hope by then.

The second was a trip to see my parents a year and a half ago when my case never appeared on the baggage carousel in Grand Rapids. Upon tracking my bag I learned that when it did arrive the next day a confused old man took it home with him. He then showed up at my parents' door to return it with great apology.

The third - this trip. I think I could fill out these lost baggage claim forms with my eyes closed!

More to come regarding my Christmas Michigan adventures - don't worry!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Seasonal changes

With every change of the season I get the 'bug'.

Don't worry it's not the flu bug.

Thankfully not the bugs which settle their home in your hair.

And nope, not a new insectly pet.

It's the bug for change! Sometimes I rearrange my apartment or visit a random place in Prague.

This time the change was extreme - but I'm happy with it!

This is a photo of me preparing for a lecture and with the new 'adult' colouring in my hair.

Friday, November 27, 2009

First Thanksgiving

This Thursday I hosted my first Thanksgiving dinner party, so thought it only appropriate to tell the story of the first Thanksgiving. Well, one version of it!

With help from:
  • the Indian Maiden ('woo woo woo woo!' - Indian hooting)
  • the Pilgrim Father ('chop chop chop' - cutting wood).
  • the Indian Chief ('How!')
  • and the Pilgrim Mother ('psheap psheap psheap' - did you know the sewing sounds like this?)
We all told the story together!

Here's the crew:
We enjoyed a semi-traditional meal for Thanksgiving and lots of good laughs! It will certainly be a day I will remember for years to come and laugh just looking at the photos.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Kde bývate?

This is what most apartment blocks look like in Prague. In the last years many of them have had cosmetic surgery and become colourful and attractive, but still nonetheless they are characterless.

That is what I thought until on some recent ventures throughout the city and among side-streets I found the following hidden oddities.These houses are in the middle of an area of Prague which no one would boast to say they come from. It's rather a place for the 'down & outs', but amidst it all someone has creativity!

I should have taken more photos of where this blue apartment block was located because there were at least four other buildings built in this same way, but one orange, one pink, one yellow, one peach, etc. It was really fascinating - and so out of place!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Some of Prague's hidden treasures

Prague is bursting with museums and galleries. In the last month I visited a number of them. Granted I don't get very excited about such things, but I do see their value and venture out for these experiences as much as possible.

Last Saturday I visited a small but colourful Charles Bridge Museum. I'm not sure it was worth the 150 CZK (8.60 USD) but I'm glad I went. AND included in the cost of the museum visit was an Espresso and a small strong drink in the Museum's cafe, which not all my readers would welcome. Nonetheless on a cold November day both drinks were appreciated - particularly because they were included in the price of this museum trip!The cake you see is much better looking then it tasted. Pistachio marzipan is not a particular dessert which ranks highly on my favourites. But this is the Czech dessert way - they look fantastic and taste, well, mediocre to put it mildly.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

A Welcoming and Tolerating Community

Late August a furry little vagabond appeared on the IBTS campus. He found his way in and out of everything on site. He could be seen sleeping on stairwells, in offices and wherever a bit of peace and quiet was available.


As a kitten, Arnošt became a welcomed part of our IBTS community. Though I must say 'welcomed' by some of our community simply means 'tolerated' by others.

He had the wonderfully playful characteristic of chasing and attacking everything that moved. (Including fingers while typing on keyboards and shoelaces of feet walking past!)

Learning that my new little Olympus has the option of videoing, I decided to give it a try:

This my first video attempt. So if it's unsuccessful, I've no qualms about taking it off and simply reverting back to basic photo illustrations.

Nonetheless - Enjoy~ !!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Confession

Some people once they open a box of chocolates can't be separated from it until the entire box has been emptied.

Some people plan their days around their favourite television programmes in order not to miss the next dramatic events in the lives of their virtual friends.

Some people plonk themselves in front of the computer screen for a whole night fighting villains and building kingdoms.

Me?

I'm addicted to these:
















Absolutely love them! 15 CZK (.86 USD) for eight sticks of bliss. If they don't disappear on the trip home from the grocers (which is about 1% of the time), then they won't last 24 hours in my tiny refrigerator.

Even if the plans for the evening is to have a large meal with friends, these fake crab sticks magically vanish before hand. I open the plastic packet convinced that I will just have one as a quick appetizer so I won't faint on the way to dinner.

Then as I prepare myself for the outing, one by one the tasty sticks are consumed...

Ah well, I guess there are worse things to be addicted to!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Kids

Up until last week, the only Abigail that I had much to do with has been the furry white goat on the top of our seminary hill.
Then along came this beauty. (Sorry, I do have an infatuation with pictures of crying babies)

She was born to my sister, Veronica, and I have to say it's really quite difficult not being there. I remember the same feelings when Abigail's older brother was born almost five years ago.

Monday, October 26, 2009

It Continues...

You will recall my day's journey of visa preparation earlier this month. A second stage of the saga took place this last week. Leaving from IBTS on the 05.19 bus on a Thursday morning to catch a train to Dresden, Germany is not my favoured way to start a day - but knowing that this is one step closer to finally securing the long-awaited for visa kept me from complaining too loudly.

It's a looooong tedious story to explain why this trip to Germany was needed, though basically there was a mistake in the renewal process over a year ago and various factors have contributed to the delay up to this point. Nonetheless, endless paperwork, office visits and interviews have just about brought me to the point of surrender.

I guess these offices simply don't understand that:
a) I'm not trying to mess them about
b) I love my job in Prague
c) I still adore their country
d)I'm helping their economy by regularly visiting their local hospodas!

Unfortunately, those questions don't appear on any of the application forms nor arise in the interviews.

Three more months of waiting and hoping...

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Late Bloomer

My dear American friends,
  • Remember when you were twelve years old?
  • Remember your dreaded visits to the dentist and eventually the orthodontist?
  • Remember the day you had an appointment to have pieces of medal hooked to your teeth?
  • Remember the discomfort of the slow movement of your teeth?
  • Remember the scraping of the braces against your cheeks and inside your lips?
  • Remember eating mashed potatoes and chocolate pudding for days afterward?
So do I... though my memory is much more recent - in fact it is not just recent, it is current.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

No Going Back

Where did it come from? Did a perfectly normal strand of blonde hair get fed up with life and through depression and desperation cross over to the grayside? Or do the gray strands grow so quickly that it suddenly sprung from my scalp and overnight grew to the length of all its youthful colourful neighbours?

I don't know, oh dear, I don't know. All I know is that it was there! I was having a peacefully slow Saturday morning. My home smelt like a fresh cup of coffee and I was comfortably shuffling around in bathrobe and slippers, when I noticed it. It was not blonde, nor a bit of the reddish which sometimes appears (naturally or not) and it certainly wasn't the classic boring brown strand hidden in the locks surrounding my sleepy but somewhat smiling face.

A serious investigation needed to take place. Upon stealthily and steadily removing the intruder and laying it gingerly on a dark investigation table - yes, it was gray and yes, it was mine.

Last year was the discovery of a wrinkling brow and this year the invasion of unyouthful hues amongst my curling head of hair. I'm frightened for next year's aged milestone...

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

All in a Day's Work

Welcome to Prague! It's a fantastic city with innumerable sites to see with simple public transportation connections from one end of the city to the other. Why not come and visit?
Oh, and if you plan to be here longer than three months and have any questions about stepping out into the world of visa-attaining you can begin this exciting and never-ending journey by following the blue trail on the map for your first step!

After enjoying your morning cup of coffee, you hop on the bus departing from the beautiful Château Jenerálka and make your way to the farthest point of your journey - the Rejstřík trestů office in Nusle. A lengthy but scenic tram ride will drop you about a hundred metres from the entrance. From this office you can obtain the needed document to prove you haven't committed any criminal offense in the Czech Republic. If you haven't, you hand over 50 CZK and your passport and in return you get a signed and stamped document (Czechs love their stamps!) and you're completed with that step!
Depending on lengths of the line at the Rejstřík trestů, you still have time to visit a few more places before lunch, which by now you are probably already looking forward to. Now to the US embassy (or your embassy of choice).

Another tram ride through the city and a short walk through Mala Strana, you are greeted by four guards at the embassy doors interrogating your purpose to visit this it of US soil. After entering the embassy, abandoning your mobile phone and passing successfully through the medal detectors you make your way up a few flights of stairs to the US citizen services. Again grabbing a number and waiting. Again giving over your passport and some Czech crowns (this time 600 CZK!). Now you have obtained a document which states that you haven't been too naughty in the US.
What else today? Three photos with dimensions 45 x 35mm, take the US Criminal Record to be officially translated and finally settle on a place for dumplings and a good drink ... and breathe!

Don't worry, my dear blog-followers, there is still more to this exciting adventure - so be sure to stay tuned!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

The best star of the autumn days

Yep, another mild day calls for another bike ride!
For these families it was a perfect kite flying day at Bila Hora. I'm only sorry my poor photography doesn't give a clear picture of the fun of the families and the bright colours of the kites this day! A favourite autumn visit of mine is Hvezda Letohradek (Star Summer Castle). It's an extremely peaceful walk or ride at anytime of year. Though the air had the biting chill of a brisk October day, the leaves had not yet given up their green hue. This calls for another trip in a week or two!


Saturday, October 3, 2009

Reading Rainbow

09/09/09 the new National Technical Library opened just a short bus (or bike!) ride away and I've had it in the back of my mind to visit. What better time than a lazy autumnal Saturday afternoon.Whilst checking up on opening days/hours I found that in the library's cafe there was live music which prompted me even more to make this the goal of my Saturday venture out.
Entering the cafe (which is one suited for a technical library) I was off to the bar for a drink and in so doing surveyed my fellow cafe goers. I was the age of their grand-children! At the door I picked up a leaflet when I walked in, as I settled with my drink in an oddly shaped but comfortable sofa I skimmed the brochure.
Prague 6 had decided to celebrate "Dny seniorů" - "Senior Days" and the National Technical Library was their afternoon visit! However, the old dears were gracious and did not give me the evil eye for crashing their event and I enjoyed the music just the same.
The Interior of the library reminded me of an oversized Kindergarten - after the initial shock, I quite liked it.

I find appealing the smell, the sounds and the atmosphere of public libraries, and this one held true to form - so much so that I signed myself up as a member!I doubt I will ever take a book off the shelves. But to enter this world of coloured floors, get lost among the graffitied corridors and fade into anonymity is a simple pleasure I look forward to.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Out of Retirement

You will remember me from the infamous Jubilee Jog through Prague and the fascinating web-blog which traced the tears and triumphs of my training for the Prague Half-Marathon last March 2009.

Since then, I've:
- turned 30 years old
- found I'm no longer allergic to cats
- applied for two visas for the Czech Republic
- had two teeth extracted
- seen the musical Sound of Music one and a quarter times
- ran a 5k through Prague at night
- learned to appreciate padded biking shorts
- gotten a tattoo
- begun losing regularly at card and board games
- been told will soon be an aunt for the second time

Just think of all the stories you've missed! Now because we all like to snoop into each others' lives, I've decided to give you full permission to sneak onto this page and read about my eventful and uneventful days without needing to feel a hint of guilt.

Enjoy!














Oh, and Mom, I'm joking about the tattoo!!!